We are deeply saddened to inform you that Lucanna (Lu) Grey, MA, LMFT, psychiatric nurse, psychotherapist, writer, teacher, and supervisor, Professor Emeritus of the Integral Counseling Psychology program and former Director of Church Street Integral Counseling Center died Wednesday September 17th, 2025, surrounded by her family after a long illness.
She came to be known as the Godmother of Gestalt therapy in the Bay Area, participated in the original San Francisco Gestalt Institute and was a driving force and leading founder of the Bay Area Gestalt Institute (BAGI) where dozens of her former students carry on her teachings of the essential values of awareness, choice and aliveness. Her contributions to CIIS began in 1990 when she was recruited to take over as the Director of the original CIIS Clinic, Church Street Integral Counseling Center. As ICP Core Faculty, she taught Gestalt Therapy to hundreds of students until her retirement in 2011. While at CIIS, she mentored the next generation of Gestalt Therapy teachers in her unique experiential style and curriculum. Lu continued to be a mentor, supervisor, inspiration and friend to students and therapists for many years beyond her retirement through her ongoing support of Church St ICC and BAGI. Her contributions to the field of Gestalt therapy are long and wide and include writings such as an article entitled "Community Building Viewed from a Group Dream Perspective" published in the Gestalt Review. Lu inspired generations of psychotherapists and students, and her contributions cannot be measured.
There will be a small private family ceremony to celebrate her life. We are also planning a celebration of Lu for Church St Alumni. Details to follow as the plan becomes clear.